Machine for counting and packaging articles



Dec. 3, 1929. R. s. CROSBY ET AL 1,737,877

MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 10, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1929. R. s. CROSBY ET AL MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND PACKAGING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10. 1928 IIIL fivyzwroxas Dec. 3, 1929. R. s. CROSBY ET AL MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 10, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 3, 1929. R. s. CROSBY ET AL MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND PACKAGING ARTICLES Filed Oct. 10, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNHTED STATES- PATENT OFFICE REUBEN S. CROSBY AND FRANK .E. NEWTON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT; SAID CROSBY ASSIGNOR TO SAID NEWTON MACHINE FOR COUNTING AND PACKAGING ARTICLES Application filed October 10, 1928.

This invention relates to a machine which is designed to automatically feed, count and deliver the exact predetermined number of small articles into boxes, or cartons, or simi- 5 lar receptacles, and while it is particularly adapted to count and package screws, or bolts or nails or the like, it may be employed for counting and packaging other small articles. For thc sake of conciseness, the term units is used throughout the specification and it is to be understood as including screws, bolts, nails and any other articles of merchandise which the invention is capable of handling, and the term"boxes is to be understood as including boxes, cartons and similar receptacles.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will rapidly count and deliver the exact number of units into boxes, the units which are passed through the machine them selves forming a connecting element between the feed and the counting mechanism so as to ensure the correct count and the delivery of the exact predetermined number of units into the boxes which when filled are automatically removed.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the units are fed down an inclined chute and delivered in frontof a reciprocating slide which pushes one at a time to the end of a runway from which they drop into the box that is vibrated to cause the units to settle. As each unit is pushed along the runway it engages and moves a counting 5 finger which is connected with a pawl that engages a ratchet wheel which is connected by gears with a shaft that carries a trip finger, the adjustment of which determines the count. Should a unit fail to appear in 49 front of the slide, the slide reciprocates past the counting finger without causing it to function. The trip finger is set to such a position that when the desired number of units have been counted and delivered to a 45 box, it will engage and trip a latch, which Serial No. 311,616.

when tripped allows mechanism to act and cause a gate to close the bottom of the chute and temporarily interrupt the exit of units from the chute, and at the same time throw a clutch and cause the conveyor to push away the filled box, and allow an empty box to be brought into position to receive the following units. After a filled box is removed and an emptybox is pushed into filling position the latch is automatically reset, the gate opens the chute and the feed of screws past the counting finger and into the box is resumed.

In the accompanying drawings F ig. 1 shows an elevation looking toward one side of the machine. Fig 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig 3 is a horizontal section looking down on the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 on Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 is a plan view on larger scale showing the relations of the mechanisms for operating the cut-off gate, the box conveyor and the box vibrating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the box conveyor and vibrating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the gate-operating mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the unit feed slide and counting finger.

The units 1, which are shown as screws, slide down an inclined chute 2 which may lead from any suitable hopper. Beneath the chute is a runway 3, and as the units reach the end of the chute they drop vertically into this runway. Movable horizontally in the runway is a slide 4, the front end of which is forked while the rear end has a head 5 with a groove 6 in its under side. In the groove of the head of the slide is a roll 7 which is eccentrically mounted on a disk 8 that is fastened to the upper end of a shaft 9 supported vertically in a bracket 10 on top of the table 11. Fixed to this shaft is a pulley 12 that by a belt 13 is connected with a pulley 14 on a shaft 15 which carries the driving pulley 16. By this means the slide is given a rapid reciprocation, and as it moves forward if a unit has been dropped in front of it the unit is pushed along the track and dropped into a box 17. As the unit is pushed along the runwav by the slide it engages the counting finger 18. Should a screw fail to drop or be held from dropping from the chute in front of the slide, the slide will reciprocate without causing the counting linger to be engaged as the limbs oftheslide fork will pass above and .helow the counting-finger without contact therewith The counting finger 18 is pivoted to a into the runway in thepmth of .the fed units. The arm 21 is connected by a link 22 with a rocker 23 that is free to turn on a shaft 24 which-extends,througlia .post 25 on the topof the table. FaStened-to the upper end of this shaft is a ratchet wheel 26 and fixed to the lower .end ,of-ithe shaft is a pinion 2.7. Pivoted on the rocker-23is a pawl2-8 that is held engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 29 Figs. 2, 5. By means of this mechanism each time the counting finger is moved .by thenfeed of a unit the pawl moves the ratchet wheel the distance of one tooth and the pinion 27 is correspondingly turned.

The pinion 27 meshes with-a gear 30 fixed to the shaft 31 to which a tri-p finger 32 is adjustably fastened. Innthepath of the ,end of the trip finger is the end of-a pivoted latch 33 which is normally held-by a spring 34 in engagement with a notch in a rocker 35. The trip finger is adjusted around the shaft according to the count desired, and when it is turned from that position by the pawl, ratchet wheel, pinion and gear so as to engage with the latch it releases the latch from the notch in the rocker allowing the rocker to he turned by a spring36. Figs. 5, 8.

Flexibly connected with one arm of the rocker 35 is the end of a link 37, the other end of which is connected with a lever 38 that is attached to a shaft 39 which extends up through the table and at its upper end carries the gate 40 that is movable across the end of the chute, Figs. 1, 8.- lVhen the rocker 35 is released and is turned by the spring 36 the gate isswung across the end of the chute 47 on the hub of a disk 48 which has a serrated periphery, Figs. 5, 6,7, and which turns freely on the shaft 46. Held by a spring 49 in contactwith the periphery of this disk is the end of an arm 50 that is fastened to an arbor 51 which is supported by brackets 52 attached to the underside of the table. Fastened to this arbor are two arms 53, the free ends of which carry plates 54, Figs. 5, 6. Extending upward from the top of each of these plates through the table are two pins 55. ESprings i56gnormally press these plates down. The pins are located below the position on the table upon which the box being filled with en'its is placed, and whentheinachine is in epc ration the rotation of the shaft -16 serrated disk 48, through the lever, arms and plates causes the pins to be reciprocatedagainstthebottom of the box as it is being filled, so as to cause the units to settle down therein. This takes place while the units are being fed-into the box.

As the rocker '35. is released and is turned whenacount is completed and a box filled, the lever 44 is swung so -,as to move. the clutch member-45 from engagement with the clutch member '47 on theserrated disk which then stops rotating and .the shaking of the box ceases. j y

When the-clutch member 45 is shifted by aclutch member 57 on the hub of a disk 58 which turns freely onthe shaft 46 and is only rotated when the clutch member 45 is engaged with the clutch member 57. This diskha-s attached to its periphery feed dogs 59. which arc-so located that when the disk is rotated they pass through an opening inthe table and engage the edge ofa box that has been filled and push it out of filling position. On the disk 58 are cam lugs 60 so located that, when the disk has been rotated sufliciently for a dog to move the box out of filling position, they engage a roll at the lower end of a bar 61, Figs. 3, 5, which has its'upper end hinged to the rocker 35, the loweiwend ofthe .bar being guided by a swinging arm 62. When a ,cam lug engages the roll and pushes the bar up the rocker 35 is by this means reset, that is, it is turned back so the the latch 33 will again engage the notch and hold-the rocker. This movement of the rocl-:er by the mechanisms described swings the gate away from the lower end of the chute so that-,units will resume feeding, and shifts the clutch member 45 back so that the box vibrating mechanism will again function.

The shaft 46 upon which the vibrating disk 48 and the box feed and resetting disk 58 are loosely mounted, is supported by brackets 62 attached to the underside of the table. This shafthas a bevel gear 63 which is engaged by a bevel pinion 64 on an arbor 65 that has a bevel gear 66 which is engaged by a bevel gear 67 attached to the lower end of an arbor controlled by screws 72 which are threaded through the lower end of a bracket 73 that is fastened to the underside of the table, Figs. 5, 6.

The trip finger is set in position to trip the latch after the predetermined number of units has been fed into the box. When the latch releases the rocker, the rocker is thrown by its spring. This movement of the rocker causes the gate to swing across the lower end of the chute and stop the feed of units. It also shifts the clutch so that the vibration of the box being filled is stopped, and sets in operation the disk which feeds away the filled box, and also after the box has been removed, resets the rocker,-which resetting of the rocker moves the gate away from the bottom of the chute and shifts the clutch back from the resettin and box feed disk into engagement with the vibrating disk, and the filling of another box is begun.

' The invention claimed is 1. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising mechanism for feeding the articles to .be counted, a counting finger projecting into the path of the fed articles, counting mechanism actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a trip moved by the movements of the counting mechanism, a latch engaged by said trip after a predetermined number of movements of the counting mechanism, control means engaged and retained by said latch, a spring for throwing said control means when released from the latch, and a gate connected with and moved by the control means to interrupt the feed of articles when the control means is thrown by said spring.

2. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising mechanism for feeding the articles to be counted, a counting finger projecting into the path of the fed articles, counting mechanism actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a trip moved by the movements of the counting mechanism, a latch engaged by said trip after a predetermined number of movements of the counting mechanism, control means engaged and retained by said latch, a spring for throwing said control means when released from the latch, a gate connected with and moved by the control means to interrupt the feed of articles when the control means is thrown by said spring, and means for reengaging the control mechanism and the latch.

3.' A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising mechanism for feeding the articlesto be counted, a counting finger projecting into the path of the fed articles, counting mechanism actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a. trip moved by the movements of the counting mechanism, a latch engaged by said trip after a predetermined number of movements of. the counting mechanism, control means engaged and retained by said latch, a spring for throwing said control means when released from the latch, a gate connected with and moved by the control means to interrupt the feed of articles when the control means is thrown by said spring, mechanism for removing a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the control means, and means for reengaging the control means and the latch when the box feed mechanism has moved a box from filling position.

4. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising mechanism for feeding the articles to be counted, a counting finger projecting into the path of the fed articles, counting mechanism actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a trip moved by the movements of the counting mechanism, a latch engaged by said trip after a predetermined number of movements of the counting mechanism, control means engaged and retained by said latch, a spring for throwing said control means when released from the latch, a gate connected with and moved by the control means to interrupt the feed-of articles when the control means is thrown by said spring, mechanism for vibrating the box being filled, mechanism for remov ng a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the control means, and means for reengaging the control means and the latch when the box feed mechanism has moved a box from filling position.

5. A machine for counting and packag ng articles comprising a runway for receiving articles, a. slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a counting finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, a trip finger moved by the movements of the ratchet wheel, means engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by said means, means for turning the rocker when released, and a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to interrupt the feed of articles when the rocker is turned.

6. A machine for counting and packag ng articles comprising a runway for receiving articles, a slide adaptedto reciprccatein the runway-and push articles therefrom, a countmg finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, apawlactuated by the movements ,ofthe counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, a trip finger moved by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined numher of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, means for turning the rocker. avhen released from the latch, and a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to interrupt the iced of articles when the rocker is turned.

7. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising a runway for receiving articles, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a counting finger -.projecting into the runway and arranged .to he engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated bykthe .movements of the counting finger, a-ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, a trip finger moved by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the :trip finger after a predetermined number of movements .of the ratchet wheel, ia rocker engaged by the latch,

means for turning the rocker when released from-the -la-tch, a gate connected with the rocker and-adapted to interrupt the feed of articles when the rocker is turned, and mechanism for removing a box from filling position set inopcration when the latch releases the rocker.

8. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising a runway for receiving articles, a slide adapted to reciprocate, in the runway andpush articles therefrom, accounting finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the died articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, a trip finger moved by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined numbcr of movements of :the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, means for turning the rocker when released from the latch, a gate connected with the rockor and adapted to interrupt the i eed of articles when the rocker is turned, and means for reengaging the rocker and the latch after a. predetermined interval.

9. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising a runway for receiving articles, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a count,- ing finger projecting into therunway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, :a pawl actuated by the movements of-the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, a trip finger moved by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of movements of the ratchet :wheel, arockericngaged bythe-latch, aspring iorturning the rocker when released from the ,latch,-a gate .conneqted with the rocker and adaptedto interrupt the feed of articles when the rocker is turned by said spring, and

means for reengaging the rocker and the latch ratchet wheeha rocker engaged .by the latch,

a spring forturniug the rocker when released from the latclna gateconnected with the. rocker and adapted to interrupt the icedof articles when the rocker isturned by said spring, and means for reengaging the rocker and the latch after a predetermined interval.

11. A machine forcounting and packaging articles .comprisinga runway Jior receiving .articles,.a.slide adapted to reciprocatein the runway and push articles therefrom, a countmg finger projecting into ,the runway and arranged to be engaged ,by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of thecounting finger, a .ratchetwheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, atrip finger moved .by the movements ofthe ratchet-wheel, a latch .engagedby the trip finger after a predeten mined number of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, means for turning the rocker when released from the latch, means connected with the rocker for vibrating a box being'filled, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to'interrupt the feed of articles when the rocker is turned, and mechanism for removing a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the rocker.

12. A machine or counting and packaging articles comprising an inclinedchute for feeding the articles, -a runway at the lower .end of the chute for receiving articles therefrom, a slide adaptedfto reciprocate in ,therunway and push articles therefrom,-acounting finger pro.- jecting into the runway and arranged .to be engaged .by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced the movements of the pawl, an adjustable ,tri finger rotated by the movements .of the rate et wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number .of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, a spring for turning .the rocker when released from the latch, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to be moved across the 10W- his or end of the chute when the rocker is turned by said spring, and means for reengaging the rocker and the latch after a predetermined interval.

13. A machine for counting and packaging articles com prising an inclined chute for feeding the articles, a runway atthe lower e id of the chute for receiving articles therefrom, a slide. adapted to reciprocate in the rm'iway and push articles therefrom, a counting finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting linger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, an adjustable trip finger rotated by the movements of the ratchetwheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, a spring for turning the rocker when released from the latch, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to be moved across the lower end of the chute when the rocker is turned by said spring, mechanism for removing a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the rocker, and means for reengaging the rocker and the latch when the box feed mechanism has moved. a box from filling position.

14. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising an inclined chute for feeding the articles, a runway at the lower end of the chute for receiving articles therefrom, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a counting linger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting linger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, an adjustable trip ling-er rotated by the. movements of the ratchet wheel. a latch engaged by the trip finger after a r.-redeterminon number of movements of the rairhet wheel, a rocker engaged by the a snring for turning the rocker when id 'rroin the. latch, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to be moved across the lower end of the chute when the rocker turned by said spring, mechanism for vibrating the box being nlled, and means for rcengaging the rocker and the latch after a predetermined interval.

15. A machine for counting and packaging articles con'iprising a runway for receiving articles to be counted, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a counting finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, an adjustable trip finger rotated by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of moven'icuts of the ratchet wheel, a

rocker engaged by the latch, a spring for turning the rocker when released from the latch, a. gate connected with the rocker and adapted to interrupt the-feed ofarticles when the rockenis. turned by said spring, mechanisnrfor, vibrating the-box being filled 0p erated ,when the latch: retains the rocker, mechanism for removing a box. from filling position set in operationzwhei the latchreleases the -rocker, and means for reengaging tlie -rocl-:er. and the latch when the box feed inechanisin has moved a box from filling position.

16. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising an inclined chute for feeding the articles, a runway at the lower end of the chute for receiving articles therefrom, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a. counting finger projecting into the runway and arranged to be en aged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated y the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, an adjustable trip finger rotated by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker enga ed by the latch, a spring for turning the roc er when released from the latch, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to be moved across the lower end of the chute when the rocker is turned by said spring, mechanism for vibrating the box being filled operated when the latch retains the rocker, mechanism for removing a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the rocker, and means for reengaging the rocker and the latch when the box feed mechanism has moved a box from filling position.

17. A machine for counting and packaging articles comprising an inclined chute for feeding the articles, a runway at the lower end of the chute for receiving articles therefrom, a slide adapted to reciprocate in the runway and push articles therefrom, a counting finger projecting into the runway and rranged to be engaged by the fed articles, a pawl actuated by the movements of the counting finger, a ratchet wheel advanced by the movements of the pawl, an adjustable trip finger rotated by the movements of the ratchet wheel, a latch engaged by the trip finger after a predetermined number of movements of the ratchet wheel, a rocker engaged by the latch, a spring for turning the rocker when released from the latch, a gate connected with the rocker and adapted to be moved across the lower end of the chute when the rocker is turned by said spring, mechanisl) for vibrating the box being filled operated when the latch retains the rocker, mechanism for removing a box from filling position set in operation when the latch releases the rocker, man's for reengaging'therocker and the latch when the box feed mechanism has moved' a Box from: filling position, and a ciutch connected with the rocker and engaged with said vibrating mechanism when the rocker is held by the latch and shifted intoengagement withthe hox feedin and rocker resetting means when the 10C(1 i's released from the hitch.

REUBEN Si CROSBY.

FRANK E. NEWTON. 

